Mars Bar venue to be transformed into an innovative city gym
It was once a place renowned for drag shows, dance and glitter. Now the site of Adelaide’s best-known gay bar is getting a makeover. SEE THE NEW ARTIST IMPRESSIONS
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The former Mars Bar is about to get a new lease on life – and it starts with swapping glitter and drag queens for weights and gym junkies.
Iron Industry Gym owner Lincoln Chen has been given approval to move his Light Square venue into the former gay bar that was an iconic night spot for about 40 years.
Mr Chen, 29, was given the keys to the site this month and will fit it out as a modern gym, without losing the nightclub vibe.
“This is going to be a unique gym – no other gym has done this before,” Mr Chen says.
“We want to respect the old Mars Bar, in fact, we want to make sure people remember it was a bar so we will keep the structure of the place – but it will be different.”
“When people walk in, I want them to say ‘this is incredible, amazing, wow’.”
Adelaide City Council’s development register has listed the refurbishment as costing around $40,000.
The gym, which has 500 members and rising, will include weights and cardio rooms, all with statement lighting.
Mr Chen, also a personal trainer, will retain the main bar but, rather than serving spirits, will change it into a nutrition bar.
It will serve healthy meals for members to help them achieve their overall fitness goals.
“If people want to change their body, the priority is nutrition and changing their lifestyle,” Mr Chen says.
“We won’t be cooking inside, the food will be packed outside the premises, and then delivered fresh to the gym.”
The Mars Bar opened in 1976 and has been a favourite of visiting celebs including Dannii Minogue, John Farnham, Courtney Act and Molly Meldrum who have all been known to have cut a rug on the famous dance floor.
Rumour has it that media personality — and former federal politician — Derryn Hinch even DJ’d there one night many years ago.
The bar, which operated under the stewardship of Andrew “Madge” Hobbs for about 30 years, closed its doors for the final time in 2017.
Not long after, Matthew Bruno, who also goes by the name Shania Twatt, took over the bar and rebranded it Oz, vowing to make the LGBTIQ venue prettier, more colourful and “camper than ever.”
Bruno and his business partners closed the bar in 2018 and the 600sq m site has been vacant since then.
The original dancefloor and stage have been demolished, while the rendering was removed and revealed original red brick that Mr Chen has incorporated into his design.
The earliest the gym will open is late November.
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